Saxophone



1954 F. N. MEYERS 2,685,220

SAXOPHONE Filed Nov. 24 I 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Ffffi A/. M/FYEFS MTTQP/VEX 3, 1954 F. N. MEYERS 2,685,220

SAXOPHONE Filed Nov. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Ffiffl /V. MEVEPS 1954 i F. N. MEYERS 2,685,220

SAXOPHONE Filed Nov. 24 1950 s Sheets-sheaf 3 INVENTOR. IP50 MEVE/PS Patented Aug. 3, 1954 SAXOPHONE Fred N. Meyers, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The H. N. White poration of Ohio Company,

Cleveland, Ohio, a cor- Application November 24, 1950, Serial No. 197,216

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wcod-wind musical instruments and more particularly to improvements and structural refinements f the tampion actuating mechanism of a saxophone operated by the little finger of the left hand.

Heretofore, saxophones due to their inherent structural limitation and variations presented many objectionabl features from the standpoint of the musician. For example, the mechanism serving to transfer motion from the keys oper ated by the little finger of the left hand to the tampions controlling the tone holes in the lower register embodied an excessive number of moving parts having considerable lost motion therebetween resulting in undesirabl noise due to such lost motion and a sluggishness in the reaction of the tampions to the movement of the operating keys. Furthermore, prior saxophones were open to the objection that there was considerable variation in the amount of force and pressure angles required by the little finger thereby mitigating against smooth manipulation of the operating keys of the instrument.

t is among the objects or the present invention to provide a saxophone which overcomes the foregoing undesirable features and drawbacks of prior instruments and which readily lends itself to smooth and evenly balanced operation which is capable of rapid manipulation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a saxophone wherein th tampions controlling the tone-holes in the lower register are located on one side of the bell with the finger actuating keys therefor positioned on the remote side and the operating mechanism therebetween consisting of a minimum number of moving parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a saxophone, tampion operating mechanism positioned between keys actuated by the little finger of the left hand and tampions positioned on the opposite side of the bell, which translates motion therebetween with a minimum change in direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a saxophone construction a key arrangement wherein greater leverage may be obtained resulting in greater ease and speed of operation of the instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a saxophone structure tampion operating mechanism embodying fewer moving parts confined to a minimum of space and whereby motion is trans lated between the actuating keys and the tampions covering the tone-holes of the lower register of the instrument in such a manner as to obtain uniform response to movement of all the keys.

Thes and other objects and advantageous features of the invention not at this time more particularly pointed out will become more apparent as the nature of the invention is better under stood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters d note corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elcvational view of a saxophone embodying the improvements of the present invention, numerous details of the instrurnent not required to illustrate the present invention being omitted,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating the body of the saxophone rotated into position to best show the tampion operating mechanism for the tone-holes in the lower register to which this invention is applicable,

Figure 3 is a developed view of the structure shown in Figure 2,

Figures 4 to 8 inclusive are sectional view taken on the lines i, 55, 6-5, l'l and respectively, of Figure 3, illustrating the mechanism with relation to the body and bell portion of the saxophone.

In the drawings many of the parts of the saxophone have been omitted in order to more clearly illustrate the novel features of the present invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the following description is to be considered as relating to a saxophone having all the necessary parts including such parts and mechanism are well known in the art and the novel parts in the mechanism disclosed herein whereby an instrument of the improved construction herein contemplated is provided.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a saxophone constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and embodying a bell it, a U-shaped tubular member or bow l l and a tubular body i 2. The bell I9 is provided, in the usual manner, with tone-holes i3 and M for producing the Bb and B natural notes, respectively, and tone-hole i5 is provided in the bow H for producing the Ci note. The tone-holes I3, 14 and i5 are controlled by valve members or tampions 16, I? and it, respectively. The actuating mechanism for the tampions it, ii and i8 is mounted on the front of the tubular body I2, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and includes a plurality of longi" tudinally extending rods arranged to occupy the minimum of lateral space, one end of each of h v. S

the rods being connected to one of the tampions and the other end to the actuating key therefor.

For actuating the Bt tampion Hi there is provided rod I9 which is rotatably mounted on pivot points projecting in opposed relation from spaced posts 28 and 2| secured to the tubular body It: as will be more particularly described. hereinafter. An arm 22 carrying the Bt tampion on its outer end is integrally connected to rod is for movement therewith. The tampion i6 is normally maintained in spaced relation or open with respect to tone-hole I3 by means of needle spring 23 secured to the post and engaging a lug 25 mounted on the rod H3. The rod i9 is actuated by the Bt key 25 mounted on the end of arm 26, the other end of which is secured to the rod l9. When the Bt operating key is depressed this movement is translated direct to the rod l9 which is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6, moving the tampion i5 to close the tone-hole IS.

The B natural tampion mounted on the end of arm 27, is actuated by rod 28. The rod 28 consists of a plurality of sections 29, 3E} and SI integrally connected together with the central section 29 laterally offset with respect to the end sections 30 and 3| which are tubular. The rod 28 is supported at one end by an elongated pin which projects through an opening in post i2 and is threaded into post 2| with the pointed end projecting into one end of the rod is and providing a pivotal support therefor. Similarly the other end 3| of the rod 28 is supported by means of the elongated pin 3m projecting through an aperture in the post 33, through the hollow rod section 3| and threaded into the post 2% with the end thereof projecting beyond the post and into the other end of rod providing a pivotal support therefor. The rod sections 3t and 3| are disposed in alignment with the rod It.

The arm 27 carrying on its uter end the tampion ll associated with the B natural tone-hole is secured to the rod section SI and the B natural operating key 34 is mounted on the outer end of arm 35 which is secured to the rod section 38. Rotation of the rod 28 controlling the tarnpion ll through key 35 is resisted by needle spring 36, one end of which is secured to the post 33 and the other end engages lug 3'1 mounted on the rod section 3|. The B natural key 8 3 is provided with a projection 33 extending into the path of movement of the Bt key 25 in such a manner that depressing the Bb key 25 carries with it the B natural key 3 5 efiecting simultaneous operation of both tampions It and 1'1.

The Ct tampion I8 is mounted on the end of arm M! which is secured for movement with the actuating rod 4|. The rod 4|, one end of which is supported on pivot screw 42a threaded into post d2,'extends through notches formed in the posts 33, 2H and 2| and has its opposite end supported by pivot screw 32a threaded into post 32. The rod il is arranged to be diametrically positioned between the rod l9 and the outer surface of the body l2. The tampion I8 is normally maintained in a closed position by means of the needle spring 63 secured to the post 32 and engaging a lug 44 on the rod 4!. The latter is rotated to open the tone-hole I5 as distinguished from the B natural and Bb tampions which are normally closed by rotation of their actuating rods 28 and Hi, respectively.

Thus the Ct tampion is closed when the B natural and Bi; tampions are opened and vice versa, upon rotation of their respective operating rods. For this purpose there is provided spaced posts s6 and ST laterally oiiset from the posts 32 and 2| for supporting therebetween a countershaft 45. The countershaft 55 has rotatably mounted thereon a sleeve eta to which is secured one end of arm 49, the other end having mounted thereon the Ct key 48. Rotative movement of the sleeve the is translated to the rod ll to eiTect rotation in the opposite direction through the medium of rocker arm at mounted on the sleeve 45a which is adapted to engage a rocker arm 5| secured to the rod 4|. Thus depr ssing the Ct key 38 rotates the sleeve 45a which in turn through the rocker arms 56 and El permits rotation of the rod M in an opposite direction in response to the needle spring 43 opening the tampion l8. Rocker arms 59 and 5| are maintained in contact by needle spring 52 anchored to the post 46 with its free end engaging the rocker arm 59.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3 there is particularly illustrated the arrangement of the operating mechanism for the tampion controlling the Gt tone-hole which similarly to the Bb, B natural and Ct tampions hereinbefore described, is actuated by the little finger of the left hand. The numeral 6d designates the Git tone-hole having tampion 6| associated therewith. The tampion 6| is carried on the end of arm 52 which is anchored for movement to rod 5A pivotally supported by spaced posts 65 and 66. Similarly to tampion l8, tampion Si is maintained seated on tone-hole 60 by means of needle spring 61 secured to post 56 with its free end engaging lug 58 carried on rod 64. Oscillation of rod 64 is effected to open the tone-hole 50 by depressing the Gt actuating key es which is carried on the end of arm 79 attached to a sleeve H rotatably mounted on the countershaft 45. A rocker arm l2 carried by sleeve 7! engages and actuates a rocker arm 13 secured to the rod 54. The Gil key 68 is operatively connected to the Ct key 58 through an outwardly extending lug is carried on the lower surface of the key 59 and projecting into the path of the Ct key 58. The Gt key is also operatively connected to the B natural key by means of arm 75 mounted on the lower surface of key 34 and extending to a position below the key 69.

With reference to the cluster of operating keys it is to be noted that when the Gt key 69 is depressed to open the tone-hole Gil all other keys remain in their normal inoperative position. When the Ct key 48 is moved it carries with it Gt key 69. Thus both tone-holes ti) and |E are uncovered upon the actuation of key 48. When the B natural key 34 is depressed it also carries with it Gt key 59. Thus when tone-hole i4 is closed tone-hole 60 is opened. When B'v key 25 is depressed it carries with it B natural key 3d and Gt key $9 thus closing tone-holes it and M and opening tone-hole 69. In case Ct key 48 and B natural key as are unintentionally depressed together, to prevent a false note, pick-up levers 8E! and BI (see Figures 3 and 8) carried on rods 3| and 4|, respectively; are brought into engagement thereby reclosing Ct tampion l8 and maintaining same closed to give a true 13 natural note.

Having thus described my invention so that those persons skilled in the art may understand and practice the same, what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent is embodied in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument of the wood-wind type comprising a tubular body and a bell spaced therefrom, a plurality of vertically spaced apart tone-holes positioned in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said tone-holes, actuating keys mounted on the side of said tubular body opposite to the side thereof corresponding to the side of the bell upon which said tone-holes are located, a plurality of longitudinally extending rods serving to translate motion from said keys to said tampions, said rods being supported in spaced relation on said tubular body between said tubular body and said bell in a plane parallel to a plane through the axes of said body and bell.

2. A musical instrument of the wood-wind type comprising a tubular body and a bell spaced therefrom, a plurality of vertically aligned toneholes positioned in one sicle of said bell, tampions for controlling said tone-holes, actuating keys mounted on the side of said tubular body opposite to the side thereof corresponding to the side of the bell upon which said tone-holes are located, a plurality of oscillating rods serving to translate motion from said keys to said tampions, said rods being arranged one above the other in a plane through the longitudinal axes of said body and bell and supported upon said tubular body between said tubular body and said bell, and means adjacent the keys for effecting reversal of the oscillating movement of one of said rods with respect to the other.

3. A saxophone comprising a tubular body and a bell laterally spaced therefrom, Bb and Ct toneholes positioned in spaced relation in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said toneholes, means for normally maintaining the tampion for the Bb tone-hole open and the tampion for the Ct tone-hole closed, keys for actuating said tampions mounted on the side of said tubular body opposite to the side thereof corresponding to the side of the bell upon which said toneholes are located, a rod mounted on the tubular body serving to translate direct motion from one of said keys to the Bb tampion, a second rod positioned between said first rod and the tubular body for releasing the means for holding the tampion closing the Ct tone-hole, said rods being positioned between said tubular body and said bell in a plane parallel to a plane through the axes of the tubular body and bell and means adjacent the said keys for efiecting a reverse movement of the second rod with respect to the first rod.

4. A saxophone comprising a tubular body and a bell laterally spaced therefrom, Bb, B natural and C1? tone-holes positioned in spaced relation in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said tone-holes, means for normally maintaining the tampions for the Rb and B natural toneholes open and the tampion for the Cl? tone-hole closed, keys for actuating said tampions mounted on the side of said tubular body opposite to the side thereof corresponding to the side of the bell upon which said tone-holes are located, a rod mounted on the tubular body serving to translate direct motion from one of the Bb keys to the Bb tampion, a second rod having end portions in alignment with said first rod, said end portions being connected to the 13 natural key and tampion, respectively, for controlling the B natural tone-hole, and a third rod positioned between said first rod and the tubular body for releasing the spring pressure means holding the tampion closing the Ct tone-hole, and means adjacent the said keys for effecting a reverse movement of the third rod with respect to the first two rods, said rods being positioned between said tubular body and said bell in a plane parallel to a plane through the axes of the tubular body and bell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,632,008 Lemm June 14, 1927 1,828,389 Calvani Oct. 20, 1931 1,828,390 Calvani Oct. 20, 1931 2,033,774 Loomis Mar. 10, 1936 2,055,382 Loomis Sept. 22, 1936 2,073,425 Leblanc Mar. 9, 1937 2,090,011 Selmer Aug. 17, 1937 2,151,337 Selmer Mar. 21, 1939 2,180,118 Loney Nov. 14, 1939 2,203,593 Comer June 4, 1940 2,232,151 Trew Feb. 18, 1941 2,555,980 Loney June 5, 1951 2,560,083 Bullock July 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 614,673 France Nov. 21, 1927 

